The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1887-10-06
OUTRAGEOUS JoBBERY.
Some Interesting Performances of
the Great Reform Party.
A Few Facts About the Building OF
the Augusta Post office.
The Treasury Department Caters to
a Few kennebec Spoilsmen.
Especial to the Press.l

Especial TO the PreSS.l
AUGUSTA, Oct. 5.-The erection of the
superstructure of the new public building in
| this city.has involved one of themost fragrant
eases of political jobbery ON record, which
by repeated rejection of bids, has obliged
the Hallowell Granite Company one of the
| largest and best known firms in the State, to
cease all endeayors to obtain the contract,
since it has become evident that unless a
Democratic company is the lowest bidder
there will be no acceptance of bids. Several
months ago the Treasury Department adver-
| tised for bids for the material and super
| structure of the building 1t was supposed
at that time that the bids were asked for in
| good faith, and the Hallowell Granite Com
| pany sent in their figures. 1t turned out
| however, that on the 10th day of June last
some of the Democrats of Augusta addressed
a letter to the Secretary of the Treasury,
urging that the superstructure of the build
ing be built as the basement, and sub-base-
ment had been that is, the government con-
tracing for the material and hiring the labor
by the day. In their letter they assigned as
the reason why this should be done, that bet
ter material could be obtained and the cost
Va WIG DUAAAh6 NOuiN VIC iCoS duQ tHCn tnCy
added this: circumstances here are such,
that we are satisfied if the work is done by
contract it will 60 into the hands of parties
hostile to the present administration, and
result in political jobbery instead Of being
kept under the control of men who desire to
promote best the public interests"
This letter was signed by Mr.. l.. B. Fow-
Ter, Mr. E. G. Allen and many other Demo
Gratis.
This was proposition which was an abso-
lutte libel upon many prominent men of the
State, and which, stripped of its subterfuges
simply means that the building of this edi-
fee must be placed in the hands of the Dem
ocrats. 1t is a declaration that man, in Or
der to receive contract, although he has to
bid in open market to obtain it. must be
Democrat The Hallowell Granite Company
were the lowest bidders, but their bid was
rejected in accordance with the advice of
prominent Augusta Democrats.
But this was not the end of the matter.
Bids were again advertised for, this time for
the material of the superstructure exclusive
Of the labor, which the Treasury Depart
ment had decided should be done by the day.
They were opened recently, when, 10! an
other Republican, Col. l. s. Bangs of the
Dodlin Granite Company was the lowest bid
der. 1t would have been political jobbery"
TO have awarded the contract to him, so the
others including that of the Halowell Gran
lte Company, and there was new call for
bids.
The Hallowell Granite Company worn out
with making figures at the caprice of the
Treasury Department, and being unable to
adopt the Democratic faith, has decided not
to send in another bid, and Gov. Bodwell
replies to the request for bids in the follow
ing leetter:
{ OFFICE OF HALLowELL GRANITE COL
HALLowELL, Me-. Oct. A, 'S7.
AR. W. c. Freret, Supervising Archjtect Treas
ary Department., Washington, ID. c.
+. Sir:--Your letter of September 2S, requesting
this company to reconsider its bid for furnishing
material for the Augusta Post ONCE and Court
House building, and submit another bid in its
place, was duly received.
We have twice submitted bids upon this build
ing, which have, for reasons best known to your
self been rejected.
We think, from correspondence which recent
ly occurred between several citizens of Augusta,
and Hon. j. H. Maynard, acting Secretary OF the
Treasury. made public by the Treasury Depart
ment. that it would be useless for this company
TO make any further bids.
We respectfully decline to comply with your re-
quest.
JOSEPH r.. BoDwELI,
President OF the Hallowell Granite Comany.